Single piece carton with sloped bottom and exterior seals

ABSTRACT

The carton is prepared from a single piece blank, preferably made from coated paperboard, comprising a bottom forming panel and wall panels attached to opposed first and second edges thereof. The bottom forming panel contains a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, including two centrally disposed foldably attached triangular bottom panels, and four triangular bottom support panels disposed exteriorly of the two bottom panels foldably attached to the two bottom panels and the wall panels. The blank is illustratively formed into a carton by folding the two triangular bottom panels in half to form a sloped bottom for the carton, folding the inner faces of the bottom support panels toward the inner faces of the wall panels, and the outer faces thereof toward the outer faces of the bottom panels to form a support for the sloped bottom, folding the wall panels on each side of the bottom forming panel toward each other, the joining the side edges thereof. A method for forming a continuous sheet of the blanks into cartons is also disclosed. The carton itself has wall panels and a bottom sloped toward its center formed by the two triangular panels in the bottom forming panel. The other panels in the bottom forming panel are disposed peripherally around the carton bottom in an erect position beneath the bottom, in face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of the wall panels, where they support the suspended bottom of the carton and join the panels forming the bottom to the wall panels. Numberous top closures can be used with the carton. Features of the carton include an exterior seal which eliminates cut paperboard edges in the carton interior which wick in the presence of liquid to cause leaks, and the facility, because of the unique construction of the blank, to form the cartons from a continuous sheet of attached blanks.

United States Patent 1191 Gordon 1 SINGLE PIECE CARTON WITl-I SLOPED BOTTOM AND EXTERIOR SEALS Robert Louis Gordon, Monroe, NY.

22 Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 456,368

[75] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl 229/16 A; 2'29/61; 229/17 G; 229/48 R [51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/08; B65D 33/16 [58] Field of Search 229/48, 37, 57, 58, 53, 229/17 G, 16 A, 16 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,838 12/1923 Reifsnyder.... 229/61 X 1,690,586 11/1928 Main 229/16 A 1,738,782 12/1929 Main 229/16 A 2,232,088 2/1941 Waters 229/61 2,323,287 7/1943 Amberg 2.29/16 A 3.124.294 3/1964 Zerlin 229/17 G 3,252,647 5/1966 Elias 229/48 R X Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney, Agent, or FirmLawrence W. Flynn [57] ABSTRACT The carton is prepared from a single piece blank, preferably made from coated paperboard, comprising a bottom forming panel and wall panels attached to opposed first and second edges thereof. The bottom 1 1 Sept. 30, 1975 forming panel contains a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, including two centrally disposed foldably attached triangular bottom panels, and four triangular bottom support panels disposed exteriorly of the two bottom panels foldably attached to the two bottom panels and the wall panels. The blank is illustratively formed into a carton by folding the two triangular bottom panels in half to form a sloped bottom for the carton, folding the inner faces of the bottom support panels toward the inner faces of the wall panels, and the outer faces thereof toward the outer faces of the bottom panels to form a support for the sloped bottom, folding the wall panels on each side of the bottom forming panel toward each other, and joining the side edges thereof. A method for forming a continuous sheet of the blanks into cartons is also disclosed. The carton itself has wall panels and a bottom sloped toward its center formed by the two triangular panels in the bottom forming panel. The other panels in the bottom forming panel are-disposed peripherally around the carton bottom in an erect position beneath the bottom, in face-to-face relationship with the inner'surface of the wall panels, where they support the suspended bottom of the carton and join the panels forming the bottom to the wall panels. Numerous top closures can be used with the carton. Features of the carton include an exterior seal which eliminates cut paperboard edges in the carton interior whichwick in the presence of liquid to cause leaks. and the facility, because of the unique construction of the blank, to form the cartons from a continuous sheet of attached blanks.

47 Claims, 35 Drawing Figures 'rllllllll -IlIlIII1/III.

U.S. Patsnt Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of7 3,908,888

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 0f7 3,908,888

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 5 of7 3,908,888

FIG]

FIG.6.

FIGI l.

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975

Sheet 6 of 7 FIGIO.

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 7 of7 3,908,888

SINGLE PIECE CARTON WITH SLOPED BOTTOM AND EXTERIOR SEALS I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a single piece carton, the blank from which it is formed, and the method by which the blank is formed into the carton.

While the carton is a general purpose one useful for packaging numerous products, it is particularly useful for products which for various reasons must be enclosed within a package having good gas and moisture barrier properties. For example, if certain products are not protected from exposure to water or moisture, they may lump, cake, decompose, or otherwise become damaged or harmed. Similarly, other products may be deliberately packaged to include ingredients, such as water or moisture, which cannot be permitted to escape from the product without damaging it in some way. Typical products which can be packaged in the carton of the present invention include a variety of liquids and solids in powdered, granular or crystalline form such as milk, concentrated fruit juices, powdered sugar, gelatin, salt, flour, cereals, dish-washing detergents and snack foods.

Several approaches have heretofore been used to package these troublesome products. In one approach, the product is packaged in a dual container in which the product is separately packaged within the container in a material having good moisture or gas barrier properties. Breakfast cereals are one example of this type of packaging. in another approach, the material is packaged in a container overwrapped'with a material such as a metallic foil which has good moisture and gas barrier properties These packages are generally undesirable because they are relatively expensive and, in some cases, require extra steps during the packaging operation which further increase the cost of packaging.

In cases where the packaged product is a liquid, there is often an additional problem since many of the containers are made from paperboard and are so constructed that cut edges of the paperboard are located in the carton interior. The exposed cut edge acts as a wick drawing the liquid into the paperboard, reducing its strength and, in many cases, eventually causing serious leakage problems. The leaky paper milk cartons are a well known example of this problem.

Another difficulty encountered in packaging such products has been the general need, because of the blank constructions used, to fabricate the packages from individual blanks instead of from a continuous sheet or web of connected blanks. This has slowed down carton production and increased packaging expenses.

The present invention provides a carton of single unit construction, preferably made from coated paperboard, which has excellent moisture and gas barrier properties and which is so constructed that it has no exposed cut edges in the carton interior. Furthermore, the blanks from which the carton is made, because of their unique construction, can be formed into cartons from a continuous sheet or web containing a plurality of attached blanks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The carton of the invention-is formed from a single piece blank having a bottom forming panel composed ofa plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, with wall panels foldably attached to opposed first and second edges of the bottom forming panel. The wall panels are attached in pairs to two edges only of the bottom forming panel, with the side edges of the panels making up each pair joined along a fold line.

The bottom forming panel is divided by a plurality of fold lines into its various triangular panels which include a first centrally disposed portion containing two foldably attached triangular panels which ultimately form the bottom of the carton, and a second portion of four triangular panels located exteriorly of the first portion which support the panels of the first portion in the formed carton and join them to the wall panels. The centrally disposed panels are not directly attached to the wall but are separated therefrom by the intervening exteriorly disposed panels of the first portion. These intervening panels are foldably attached to the two centrally disposed panels of the bottom forming panel and to the wall panels.

To form the blank into a carton, the two central panels of the bottom forming panel are folded in half to move the inner faces thereof toward each other to form the sloped bottom of the carton. The four exterior panels are folded to move the inner faces thereof toward the inner faces of the wall panels to which each is foldably attached and the outer faces thereof forward the outer surface of the central panels to which each is foldably attached until the four panels assume an erect position. The wall panels on opposite sides of the bottom forming panel are folded toward the inner faces of the four exterior panels to which each is foldably attached and the side edges of the wall panels then joined to each other in such manner that the joined portions are located exteriorly of the carton. These exterior sealed portions form a thin external lateral flange at opposed corners of the formed carton.

A continuous sheet or web of the blanks is prepared by imprinting the fold lines which delineate the blank side by side on a surface of a sheet of paperboard stock or other suitable material. Preferably the blanks contain a central score line dividing each of the two triangular bottom panels, and are imprinted so they are joined to each other along an edge perpendicular to this central score line.

To form the sheet of blanks into a carton, the bottom forming panel is folded in half causing the outer faces of each half to move toward each other. The wall panels are folded upwardly along their bottom edge toward the inner faces of the bottom forming panel. The side edges of the wall panels on opposite sides of the bottom forming panel are moved into face-to-face relationship and joined, with the folded bottom forming panel located between them. The joined edges of the blanks are then sliced to separate each blank from its adjoining blank on the sheet. The joined portions of each blank are located exteriorly of the carton and form a thin external flange at opposed corners of the carton. The wall panels on opposite sides of the bottom forming panel are then separated from each other to form the carton interior. Because of the unique construction of the blank, the folded bottom forming panel automatically unfolds upon separation of the wall panels to form the sloped carton bottom, An individual blank could be formed in the same manner except that the slicing step would not be needed.

Because the wall panels are joined to each other exteriorly of the carton, there are no out edges present in the carton interior which can wick in the presence of liquids and cause leaks or structural weakness in the carton. The unique construction of the blank permits a method of assembly which assures that all cut edges are located exteriorly of the carton where they can do no harm.

In the carton itself, the bottom comprises two triangular panels,- foldably attached along a common first edge, which slope downwardly toward this common edge to form a V-shaped sloped bottom. The triangular panels are formed from the two centrally disposed panels which make up a first portion of the triangular panels in the bottom forming panel. The two bottom panels are suspended and supported along their second and third edges by the panels which make up the second portion of the triangular panels in the bottom forming panel. The panels of this second portion join the two triangular panels forming the carton bottom to the wall panels and stand erect about and beneath the periphery of the sloped carton bottom in face-to-face relationship with the inner faces of the wall panels.

The blank and carton can be provided in a number of sizes, shapes and configurations containing various top closures including flat and gable top closures.

The invention is more fully exemplified by the specific embodiments discussed in detail below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1-3 are preferred embodiments of three blanks from which cartons can be formed in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 4A-4L illustrate schematically the formation of the blank of FIG. 1 into a carton when the blanks are supplied as a continuous sheet.

FIGS. 4A4D' are sectional views taken along the lines 4A'4A', 4B4B, 4C'4C and 4D-4D of FIGS. 4A-4D, respectively.

FIGS. 4G and 4H are enlarged views of the bottom portions of the cartons shown in FIGS. 4G and 4H, respectively, partially cut away to better show the development of the internal bottom structure of the carton as the wall panels separate to form the carton interior.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4H looking up toward the bottom of the carton to better show the external bottom structure of the carton.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4H.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along the lines 7-7 and 88, respectively, of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic views similar to FIGS. 4J-4L but showing the forming of a flat top closure for the carton used in the blank of FIG. 2 instead of the gabled top closure used in the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rectangular carton formed from the blank of FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 1 is a view of the bottom portions of the carton shown in FIG. 10 partially cut away to better show the internal bottom structure of the carton.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is another preferred embodiment of a blank similar to that of FIG. 1 except for the omission of certain score lines.

' FIGS. 14-16 illustrate the formation of the blank of FIG. 13 into a carton, with FIG. 16 showing only the carton bottom and being partially cut away to better show the internal bottom structure of the carton.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Several blanks useful in forming the cartons are shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 13. The pre-scored blanks are preferably made of rigid paperboard of 0.008 to 0.028 caliper, preferably 0.012 to 0.016 caliper, coated on one or both sides with a thermoplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, Mylar or other material having acceptable moisture and/or gas barrier properties. A number of such materials are known in the art and are included within the scope of the invention. The thermopolasic upon heating my also serve as the adhesive for joining portions of the blank together to form the carton. While one objective of the invention is to provide a carton for packaging troublesome products, it is evident that the carton is a multi-purpose one and, as such, could be fabricated from the materials commonly used in the manufacture of rigid cartons, containers and packages.

The blanks 10, 11 of FIGS. 1 and 3 are identical except for the dimensions of certain panels and the fold line angles resulting from these different dimensions. The blanks 10 and 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are identical except for the portions forming the top structure of the carton when the blank is formed. FIG. 1 is a blank for a gable top carton and FIG. 2 for a flat top carton. The blanks 10, 150 of FIGS. 1 and 13 are essentially similar except that blank 150 omits certain fold lines found in blank 10. Because of similarities between the four blanks, common identifying numerals are used in the drawings wherever possible.

The shaded area along the edges of the blanks designates surfaces of the blank which are sealed together in forming the carton. These shaded areas are rendered adhesive at some point during the formation of the blank into a carton. This can be done by applying glue or other suitable adhesive to the shaded areas or, in the case where the blank is thermoplastic coated paperboard, by heating the shaded areas to render the thermoplastic coating adhesive.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, each of blanks 10-12 has a central bottom forming panel generally designated as 13 having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels. Panel 13 contains the diamond shaped fold lines. As explained more fully below, the various triangular panels making up panel 13 have two principal functions (I) to form the sloped bottom of the carton and (2) to suspend and support this bottom and attach it to the wall panels.

. Each blank also contains two pairs of wall panels generally designated as 14 attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel 13, as well as various panels generally designated as 15, which form a top structure for the carton and are attached to the upper end of each pair of wall panels.

The two pairs of wall panels 14 are attached to only two of the available four edges of the bottom forming panel 13. The first pair 20, 21 joined along a side fold line 22, is foldably attached to one edge of panel 13 along fold line 23. The second pair 24, 25, joined along a side fold line 26, is foldably attached to an opposite edge of panel 13 along fold line 27. The fold lines 22, 26 joining each pair of wall panels are generally perpendicular to fold lines 23, 27 of panel 13 and intersect lines 23, 27 at points 28, 29 respectively. Thin side sealing panels 30, 31, 32, 33 are attached to each of the wall panels 20, 21, 24, along side fold lines 34, 35, 36, 37, respectively.

The bottom forming panel 13 has a central fold line generally parallel to its edge fold lines 23, 27, and another fold line 41 intersecting line 40 at point 68 and joining the points 28, 29 where the side fold lines 22, 26 of the wall panels intersect edge fold lines 23, 27, respectively. In FIGS. 1 and 2, line 41 is generally perpendicular to the central score line 40 because each wall panel has the same dimensions. In FIG. 3, line 41 is not perpendicular to line 40 because the differently sized wall panels alter the locations of the terminus points 28, 29 of line 41. Panel 13 has a plurality of additional fold lines 42, 43, 44, 45 connecting the ends 28, 29 and 46 of the intersecting fold lines 40 and 41.

Bottom forming panel 13 thus contains eight interconnected triangular panels 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58. The four exteriorly disposed panels, panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 are termed bottom supportpanels because in the formed carton they suspend and support the sloped bottom of the carton and join the bottom to the cartons wall structure (see FIGS. 4H and 5). Panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 are attached, respectively, to the bottom edges of the wall panels 20, 21, 24 and 25 along fold lines 23, 27. Each of triangular panels 50, 51, 52, 53 has a second edge which is an extension of the side fold lines 34, 35, 36, 37, respectively, and to which thin bottom sealing panels 50', 51', 52 and 53' are attached, respectively, along fold lines 58, 59, and 61. The third edge of panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 joins the ends of the first and second edges and is attached to the adjoining triangular panels 54, 55, 56, 57 by fold lines 42, 44, 43, 45, respectively. Bottom sealing panels 50', 52' and 51', 53 join along fold lines 62 which are an extension of each end of central fold line 40.

The remaining four inner or centrally located triangular panels 54, 55, 56 and 57 are termed bottom panels" because in the assembled carton they form the sloped bottom. Panels 54 and 55 combine to form a larger triangular panel which forms one half of the carton bottom, while panels 56, 57 combine to form a similar triangular panel 71 which forms the other half of the carton bottom (see FIGS. 4H and 5). The two triangular panels 70, 71 are attached to each other along fold line 41, which forms a first edge of each panel. The second and third edges of panel 70 are attached to its adjoining bottom support panels 50, 52 along fold lines 42, 44, respectively, while the second and third edges of panel 71 are attached to its adjoining bottom support panels 51, 53 along fold lines 43, 45, respectively. Fold line 40 extends centrally through each of panels 70, 71 from the intersection 46 of its second and third edge to a common point 68 midway on its first edge 40. The inner panels 70, 71 of the bottom support panel 13, and the smaller triangular panels 54, 55, 56 and 57 from which panels 70, 71 are formed, are separated from the wall panels 20, 21, 24 and 25 by the intervening triangular bottom support panels 50, 52, 51, 53, respectively, and are not themselves foldably attached to the wall panels.

The gable top structure in the blanks of FIGS. 1 and 3 is provided by four top panels 80, 81, 82, 83 attached along fold lines 84, 85, 86 and 87 to the upper edges of wall panels 20, 21, 24 and 25, respectively, and the thin top sealing panels 90, 91, 92 and 93 attached to the top edges of the four top panels along fold lines 94, 95, 96 and 97, respectively. Top panels 81, 82 each have two diagonal fold lines 98, 99 extending from the lower corners of each panel to a point 100 midway along fold lines and 96, respectively. A fold line 101 extends from point to the midpoint of the top edge of panels 91, 92. Thin top side sealing panels 102, which are an extension of side sealing panels 30, 31, 32, 33, are attached to the side edges of top panels 80, 81, 82, 83 and top sealing panels 90, 91, 92, 93 along fold lines 104. An extension 105 of fold lines 94, 95, 96 and 97 and an extension 106 of fold lines 84, 85, 86 and 87 pass through the top side sealing panels 102.

The flat top structure in the blank of FIG. 2 is provided by four top panels 110, 111, 112, 113 attached to the upper edges of wall panels 20, 21, 24 and 25 by fold lines 114, 115, 116 and 117, respectively. To sealing panels similar to panels 102 in FIGS. 1 and 3 are not provided in the blank of FIG. 2 because they are not needed with the flat top closure.

FIGS. 4A4L illustrate a sequence of steps by which the blank of FIG. 1 is formed into a carton, filled, and sealed. The operation shown in FIGS. 4A-4L is equally applicable for forming the blank of FIG. 3 into the carton shown in FIGS. 10-12. The procedure for forming the flat top blank of FIG. 2 into a carton is the same as for the blank of FIG. 1 up to and including the step shown in FIG. 4]. At this point, however, because of the flat top closure, the steps shown in FIGS. 9A-9C are followed in lieu of those shown in FIGS. 4J4L.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the blanks 10 are joined togetherin a continuous sheet or web 120 wound on a core 121 to form a supply roll 122 of blanks. The blanks are joined along the outer edges 123 of their side sealing panels 30, 31 32 and 33 (see FIG. 1), an edge generally perpendicular to the central fold line 40 of the bottom forming panel. The strip 125 separating the wall panels of adjoining blanks (FIG. 4A) is sufficiently thick so that when subsequently sliced in half to separate roll 122 into individual blanks (see FIGS. 4E, 4F), it provides the various thin side sealing panels on adjoining sides of the separated blanks. Although the edge 123 along which the blanks are joined is not actually discernible as a separate line on roll 122, it is shown for purposes of clarity in FIGS. 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E as dividing strip 125 in half to form on each side thereof the various thin sealing panels of the blank such as the panels 30, 31, 32, 33, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 102 previously discussed.

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4A, 4B and 4B, the fold lines which delineate the blank are imprinted on the bottom surface of the blank which forms the outer surface of the formed carton, while the top surface forms the inner surface or the surface which contacts the contents of the carton. The top surface of a panel in the blank is therefore referred to herein as its inner face" and its bottom surface as its outer face.

The sheet 120 of blanks 10 is withdrawn from roll 122 and continuously advanced to a first station (FIGS. 4A, 4A, 4B and 48) where the bottom forming panel 13 is folded in half along its central fold line 40 in such manner that the outer faces 130, 131 (FIGS. 4A, 4B) of the portions of panel 13 on opposite sides of line 40 move toward each other as shown in FIGS. 48, and particularly in FIG. 4B. As this occurs, the outer faces of the central triangular panels 54, 56 of panel 13 move toward the outer faces of central panels 55, 57 (see FIG. 4B) so that the two central triangular panels 70, 71 which are to form the carton bottom are also folded in half along the central fold line 40 which divides panels 70, 71. This is best seen by a comparison of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The folding of the bottom forming panel 13 can be accomplished, as shown schematically by the arrows, in FIG. 4A, by exerting an upward force in proximity to the central fold line 40 while maintaining a downward force in proximity to edge fold lines 23, 27. As the bottom forming panel 13 folds in half, each half of panel 13 also folds upwardly from the plane of the wall panels 20, 21, 24 and 25 along fold lines 23 and 27 to produce the inverted V-shaped configuration shown in FIGS. 4B and 4B.

The wall panels 20, 21, 22, 23 are then folded upwardly, as shown in FIGS. 4C, 4C, along fold lines 23, 27 in such manner that the inner faces 132, 133 (FIG. 4C) of the wall panels on each side of the bottom forming panel 13 move toward each other to produce the W-shaped configuration shown in FIG. 4C, and particularly in FIG. 4C. The W-shaped configuration is collapsed inwardly along fold lines 23, 27 and as shown schematically by the arrows in FIG. 4C until the side sealing panels 30, 32 of opposed wall panels 20, 24, and the side sealing panels 31, 33 of opposed wall panels 21, 25, come into face-to-face relationship as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4D. This step also moves the bottom sealing panels and 52, and 51' and 53 into face-to-face relationship between the side sealing panels 30, 32 and 31, 33, respectively (see FIG. 4D), while the top sealing panels 102 also assume a similar face-to-face relationship. At this point, the folded bottom forming panel 13 is enclosed between the opposed wall panels 21, 20 and 24, 25 with its attached bottom sealing panels 50, 51, 52' and 53 enclosed between the side sealing panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the opposed wall panels 21, 20 and 24, 25.

The various sealing panels are then sealed together to join the edges of the wall and top panels on one side of the bottom forming panel to the edges of the wall and top panels on the other side. As this occurs, bottom sealing panels 50, 52, and 51', 53 are joined to each other on one side thereof and to the side sealing panels 30, 32, and 31, 33, respectively, on their other side (FIG. 4D).

Various methods can be used to seal the panels of the blank together. In the case where the blank is made from plastic coated paperboard, conventional heat sealing equipment such as that shown schematically at 140 in FIG. 4D can be used. This equipment locally heats the plastic coating on the surfaces to be sealed (represented by the shaded area in the drawings) to the point where it becomes adhesive, while joining the two heated adhesive surfaces under pressure to complete the seal. Thus as shown in FIG. 4D, the heated sealing bars 140 are timed to converge on the continuously advancing sheet 120 when the aligned edge sealing panels of the blank are between them to form the seal across strip 125 (see FIG. 4A). In the case where the panels are to be joined by an adhesive not requiring heat activation, the adhesive would be pre-applied to the shaded areas of the blanks and bars 140 would then merely apply the required pressure to complete the seal.

The sheet 120 of sealed blanks then advances past a cutting mechanism, such as that shown schematically at 141 in FIG. 4E, timed to converge on sheet 120 at an appropriate time to slice in half the sealed border strip 125 (FIG. 4A) between adjoining blanks along line 123 to form the various sealing panels of the adjoining blanks. This separates each blank along edges 123 from its adjoining blank as shown in FIG. 4F. The cut edges 123 resulting from the cutting operation are located on the exterior of the carton (see FIGS. 4G, 4H).

The two sets of joined wall panels are then separated from each other by folding the inner faces of wall panels 20 and 21, and 24 and 25, toward each other along fold lines 22 and 26, respectively, to form the carton interior and unfold the bottom forming panel 13 to form the bottom of the carton. The separation of the wall panels is preferably accomplished in a two step sequence as shown in FIGS. 4F and 4G. First, a force (shown schematically by the arrows in FIG. 4F) is applied to wall panels 20, 21 and 24, 25 on opposite sides of the bottom forming panel 13 to cause them to slightly separate to the position shown in FIG. 4G. This is conveniently done using retractable suction cups (not shown) which grasp the outer surface of wall panels 20, 21 and 24, 25 and pull them slightly apart. As they separate, the inner faces of wall panels 20, 21 and 24, 25 fold along lines 22, 26, respectively, and move toward each other. As shown in the cutaway view of FIG. 4G, this slight separation has not yet caused the bottom forming panel 13 to begin any significant unfolding along its central fold line 40.

In the next step (FIG. 4G), a compressive force (shown schematically by the arrows in FIG. 4G) is applied to the opposed sealed side edges of the carton causing the partially opened carton of FIG. 4G to open fully as the inner faces of wall panels 20, 21 and 24, 25 continue to fold toward each other along lines 22, 26, respectively. At the completion of this step, the carton interior has been fully formed and, as shown in the cutaway view of FIG. 4H, the bottom forming panel 13 has now unfolded along its central score line 40 to produce the sloped bottom structure of the carton.

The mechanism by which the bottom forming panel automatically unfolds to form the sloped carton bottom is best understood in reference to the cutaway views of FIGS. 4G, 4H and 5. As the wall panels 20, 21 separate from panels 24, 25 (see FIGS. 4F, 4G, 4H), they cause the folded halves of the bottom forming panel 13 to also separate and begin unfolding along line 40 since one folded half of panel 13 is attached to wall panels 20, 21 and the other half to opposed wall panels 24, 25. As the separation of the wall panels becomes greater (FIG. 4H), it exerts a progressively stronger downward pull on the four central triangular panels 54, 55, 56 and 57 (panels 70, 71) of the bottom forming panel. This force is relieved when panels 54, 55 and 56, 57 unfold from each other along line 40 and collapse downwardly to form the sloped bottom structure shown in FIG. 4H.

Panels 54, 55 fold downwardly along edge fold lines 42, 44 as they collapse to form the triangular panel shown as the left half of the sloped carton bottom in FIG. 4H. Panels 56, 57 fold downwardly along edge fold lines 43, 45 as they collapse to form the triangular panel 71 shown as the right half of the sloped carton bottom in FIG. 4H.

The two triangular bottom panels 70, 71 slope downwardly toward fold line 41 to form a V-shaped bottom structure as shown in FIGS. 4H, 5 and 7. Panels 70, 71 are formed from the four inner triangular panels 54, 55, 56 and 57 of the bottom forming panel 13 (see FIG. 1

each of which is attached to one of the four outer triangular panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 along its outer edges. As best shown in FIGS. 4H and 5, panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 are disposed in a vertically upright position about the periphery of bottom panels 70, 71 in face-toface relationship with the inner faces of the adjoining wall panel to which they are attached, where they suspend and support the panels 70, 71 and connect them to the walls of the carton.

The filling and sealing of the carton are completed as shown in FIGS. 4I-4L. First the carton is filled through its open top with a product 145 discharged into it from an overhead hopper 146 in controlled amount (FIG.

4]). The gable top closure is then collapsed by folding panels 81, 82 inwardly (shown schematically by the arrows in FIG. 41), causing the top sealing panels 90, 91, 92, 93 to move into face-to-face relationship where they are subsequently sealed together by heated sealing bars 147 (FIG. 4K) to form a sealed, filled gable top carton (FIG. 4L). For the square topped carton formed from the blank of FIG. 2, the steps of FIGS. 4J'-4L are replaced by the steps of FIGS. 9A-9C which are believed self-explanatory.

The carton prepared from the blank of FIG. 3 is shown in FIGS. 11-12. The only difference between this carton and that prepared from the blank of FIG. 1 is that the wall panels on each side of the bottom forming panel 13 differ in the width dimension. As a result, the panels 70, 71 forming the carton bottom are not equilateral triangles as they are for the blank of FIG. 1 (see FIGS. 4H, 6)

The blank 150 of FIG. 13 is essentially the same as the blank 10 of FIG. 1 except that the central fold line 40 of panel 13 and side fold lines 58, 34, 104 in the upper left corner and side fold lines 61, 37, 104 in the lower right corner have been omitted. Score line 40 is not needed because of the different manner in which the blank 150 can be formed into a carton, as explained below in connection with FIGS. 14-16. The elimination of the various side fold lines produces a blank in which the thin foldable sealing surfaces shown in blank 10 of FIG. 1 are provided only on wall panels 21, 24 of triangular bottom support panels 51, 52, and top panels 81, 82 and 91, 92. In the formed carton, these foldable sealing surfaces are sealed to unfoldable portions of the other two wall panels, bottom support panels and top panels. Although only half of the sealing surfaces of the carton are foldable in blank 150, this suffices to permit the desired alignment of the surfaces necessary for effective sealing, since foldable surfaces can be folded into face-to-face relationship with the unfoldable sealing surfaces and sealed thereto, as best shown in FIG. 16.

The bottom forming panel in blank 150 comprises the two large centrally disposed tirangular bottom panels 70, 71 attached along fold line 41, and the four outer smaller triangular bottom support panels 50, 51, 52, 53 to which panels 70, 71 are foldably attached.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate a sequence of steps by which the blank 150 is formed into a carton. In FIG. 14, the bottom panel 13 of blank 150 is folded in half along fold line 41 to move the inner faces 151, 152 of each half toward each other to form the sloped bottom of the carton from panels 70, 71. As the bottom panel folds, the wall panels 20, 21, 24, 25 and top panels 80, 81, 82, 83 and 90, 91, 92, 93 also fold along lines 22, 26 to form the generally V-shaped configuration of the blank shown in FIG. 14.

The bottom support panels 50, 51, 52 and 53 are then folded (FIG. 15) to move their inner faces 153 toward the inner faces 154 of the wall panels 20, 21, 24, 25 to which each is foldably attached and their outer faces 155 (FIG. 15) toward the outer faces 156 of the bottom panels 70, 71 to which each is foldably attached, until the panels 50, 51, 52, 53 assume a generally erect position (FIGS. 15, 16). The wall panels 20, 21 and 24, 25 are then folded (FIG. 15 to move the inner faces 154 thereof toward each other and the inner faces 153 of the bottom support panel to which each is foldably attached.

As shown in FIGS. 15, 16, the foldable sealing panels 31, 102 are then folded along lines 35, 104 into face-toface relationship with the unfoldable side edges 160 of panels 25, 83 and 93 and sealed thereto. Similarly, the foldable sealing panels 32, 102 are folded along lines 36, 104 into face-to-face relationship with the unfoldable side edges 161 of panels 20, and and sealed thereto as best seen in FIG. 16. Foldable bottom sealing panel 52' and the unfoldable side edge 162 of panel 50, and foldable bottom sealing panel 51 and the unfoldable side edge 163 of panel 53, are similarly brought into face-to-face relationship between the adjoining sealing surfaces of the wall panels, and sealed to each other and to the sealing surfaces of the wall panels as shown in FIG. 16. The carton of FIG. 16 can then be filled and its top formed and sealed as shown in FIGS. 4I-4L.

The blanks of FIGS. 1-3 could be formed into cartonsin the same manner shown in FIGS. 14-16 for blank and, in such case, the central score line 40 of the blanks of FIGS. 1-3 would be unnecessary to the forming operation and could be eliminated. As shown in FIG. 16, effective edge scaling is still obtainable with blank 10 of FIG. 1 even if only a portion of the sealing surfaces are foldable, thereby permitting the fold lines responsible for creating some of the foldable sealing surfaces in blank 10 to be eliminated in blank 150.

The bottom structure of the carton shown in FIG. 16 is essentially similar to that shown in FIG. 4H for the blank of FIG. 1 except for the omission of certain fold lines as previously noted.

In all the cartons of the invention, the seals are located exteriorly of the carton and appear as two side flanges on opposite edges of the carton (see FIGS. 4H, 5, l1 and 16). This arrangement locates the cut edges of these seals on the outside of the carton where they cannot contact the carton interior. As a result, the carton has no cut edges in contact with its contents, thereby preventing damage to the carton from wicking through these edges.

As shown above, the cartons can be formed from a sheet of blanks thereby permitting the blanks to be formed in a rapid, continuous and efficient manner.

The specific and detailed information presented above is by way of illustration only, and such alterations and modifications thereof as would be apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the scope and spirit of the invention, bearing in mind that the invention is defined only by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a pair of triangular panels foldably attached along a common edge, with the remaining edges of each of said triangular panels foldably attached to other triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel, said opposed edges being formed solely from said other triangular panels.

2. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and wall panels foldably attached to two opposed edges only of the bottom forming panel, a first portion of the triangular panels foldably attached to the wall panels and a second portion of the triangular panels located interiorly of the panels of the first portion and foldably attached to the panels of the first portion but not to the wall panels, the triangular panels of the second portion surrounded on all sides thereof by the triangular panels of the first portion.

3. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges thereof, the bottom forming panel comprising two centrally disposed triangular bottom panels foldably attached thereto along a common edge, and four triangular bottom support panels disposed exteriorly of the two bottom panels and foldably attached to the two bottom panels and the wall panels, said four triangular bottom support panels substantially completely enclosing said two triangular bottom panels.

4. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 3 attached to each other.

5. The blank of claim 3 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the side edges of the wall panels and bottom support panels.

6. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and a first and second pair of wall panels foldably attached to opposed first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, the wall panels in each pair foldably attached to one another along a side fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the first and second edges, respectively, of the bottom forming panel, the bottom forming panel having (1) a central fold line parallel to its first and second edges, (2) a fold line which intersects the central fold line and joins the intersections of each side fold line with its respective first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, and (3) straight fold lines joining the ends of the central fold line and its intersecting fold line and forming a diamond pattern.

7. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 6 attached to one another along an edge perpendicular to the central fold line.

8. A carton blank comprising: first and second wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof;

third and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof, the first and second wall panels separated from the third and fourth wall panels by a bottom forming panel to which the wall panels are foldably attached;

said bottom forming panel comprising:

first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of said first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each bottom support panel having a second edge which forms an extension of a second side edge of its attached wall panel, and a third edge connecting its first and second edges; and

first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along a first edge thereof, the second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and the second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panels, each bottom panel having a central fold line extending from the intersection of the second and third edges thereof to a common point midway on its first edge. 9. The blank of claim 8 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels.

10. The blank of claim 8 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and the triangular bottom support panels.

11. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 9 attached to one another along an edge perpendicular to the central fold line of the bottom panel.

12. A carton comprising wall panels, two triangular bottom panels foldably attached along a common edge each sloping downwardly toward the edge to form a sloped bottom for the carton, and additional triangular panels in face-to-face relationship with the wall panels joining the two bottom panels to the wall panels.

13. The carton of claim 12 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels by which the wall panels are joined.

14. A carton comprising wall panels and a bottom forming panel to which the wall panels are foldably attached, said bottom forming panel comprising a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels wherein a first portion of triangular panels forms a bottom for the carton sloped downwardly on each side thereof toward its center, and the panels of the second portion join the panels of the first portion to the wall panels and are disposed peripherally about the bottom of the carton in face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of the wall panels in an upright position be- 40 neath the panels of the first portion.

15. A carton comprising: first and second wall panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof;

third'and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof and joined to the first and second wall panels to form four interconnected wall panels;

first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of the first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each in faceto-face relationship with the inner face of its respective wall panel and having a second edge upright and a third edge connecting its first and second edges; and

first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along a first edge thereof, the second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and the second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panel, each bottom panel sloping downwardly toward the first edge thereof to form the bottom of the carton.

16. The carton of claim 15 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and located exteriorly on the carton by which the wall panels are joined.

17. The carton of claim 15 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the=wall panels by which the wall panels are joined, and additional side sealing panels foldably attached to the triangular bottom support panels and joined to the side sealing panels of the wall panels.

18. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, without a panel of non-triangular configuration being disposed between any of the triangular panels in the bottom forming panel, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.

19. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 18 attached to each other.

20. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel of rectilinear configuration formed solely from a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.

21. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 20 attached to each other.

22. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel, a first plurality of the triangular panels of the bottom forming panel being inwardly disposed and a second plurality of the triangular panels being exteriorly disposed surrounding said inwardly disposed triangular panels on all sides thereof, each of said exteriorly disposed triangular panels being foldably attached to an inwardly disposed triangular panel and to a wall panel.

23. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 22 attached to each other.

24. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel consisting essentially of six foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.

25. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel consisting essentially of eight foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.

26. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 25 attached to each other.

27. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and a first and second pair of wall panels foldably attached to opposed substantially parallel first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, the wall panels in each pair foldably attached to one another along a side fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the first and second edges, respectively, of the bottom forming panel, the bottom forming panel having a central fold line which terminates at the intersections of each side fold line with its respective first and second parallel edges of the bottom forming panel, and additional straight fold linesjoining the terminal points of the central fold line with midpoints on the third and fourth edges of the bottom forming panel and forming a diamond pattern solely within the bottom forming panel.

28. A carton blank comprising:

first and second wall panels foldably'attached along a first side edge thereof;

third and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof, the first and second wall panels separated from the third and fourth wall panels by a bottom forming panelto which the wall panels are foldably attached;

said bottom forming panel comprising:

first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of said first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each bottom support panel having a second edge which forms an extension of a second side edge of its attached wall panel, and a third edge connecting its first and second edges; and

first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along afirst edge thereof, substantially the entire second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and substantially the entire second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panels.

29. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 1 attached to each other.

30. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claims 2 attached to each other.

31. The carton of claim 15 wherein each bottom panel further contains a central fold line extending from the intersection of the second and third edges thereof to a common point midway on its first edge.

32. The blank of claim 1 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and said other triangular panels.

33. The blank of claim 2 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and the triangular panels of said second portion.

34. The blank of claim 6 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and opposed third and fourth edges of the bottom forming panel.

35. The carton of claim 12 further including exteriorly located side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels, by which the wall panels are joined, and exteriorly located side sealing panels foldably attached to said additional triangular panels, said side sealing panels which are attached to said additional triangular panels being sandwiched between the side sealing panels attached to the wall panels and joined thereto.

36. The carton of claim 14 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and the triangular panels of said second portion, said side sealing panels being joined to each other in face-to-face relationship and located exteriorly on the carton.

37. The blank of claim 18 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.

38. The blank of claim 20 furter including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.

39. The blank of claim 22 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.

ing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and each of said four triangular bottom support panels.

44. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 33 attached to each other.

45. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 37 attached to each other.

46. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 42 attached to each other.

47. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 43 attached to each other. 

1. A carton comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a pair of triangular panels foldably attached along a common edge, with the remaining edges of each of said triangular panels foldably attached to other triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel, said opposed edges being formed solely from said other triangular panels.
 2. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and wall panels foldably attached to two opposed edges only of the bottom forming panel, a first portion of the triangular panels foldably attached to the wall panels and a second portion of the triangular panels located interiorly of the panels of the first portion and foldably attached to the panels of the first portion but not to the wall panels, the triangular panels of the second portion surrounded on all sides thereof by the triangular panels of the first portion.
 3. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges thereof, the bottom forming panel comprising two centrally disposed triangular bottom panels foldably attached thereto along a common edge, and four triangular bottom support panels disposed exteriorly of the two bottom panels and foldably attached to the two bottom panels and the wall panels, said four triangular bottom support panels substantially completely enclosing said two triangular bottom panels.
 4. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 3 attached to each other.
 5. The blank of claim 3 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the side edges of the wall panels and bottom support panels.
 6. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and a first and second pair of wall panels foldably attached to opposed first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, the wall panels in each pair foldably attached to one another along a side fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the first and second edges, respectively, of the bottom forming panel, the bottom forming panel having (1) a central fold line parallel to its first and second edges, (2) a fold line which intersects the central fold line and joins the intersections of each side fold line with its respective first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, and (3) straight fold lines joining the ends of the central fold line and its intersecting fold line and forming a diamond pattern.
 7. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 6 Attached to one another along an edge perpendicular to the central fold line.
 8. A carton blank comprising: first and second wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof; third and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof, the first and second wall panels separated from the third and fourth wall panels by a bottom forming panel to which the wall panels are foldably attached; said bottom forming panel comprising: first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of said first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each bottom support panel having a second edge which forms an extension of a second side edge of its attached wall panel, and a third edge connecting its first and second edges; and first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along a first edge thereof, the second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and the second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panels, each bottom panel having a central fold line extending from the intersection of the second and third edges thereof to a common point midway on its first edge.
 9. The blank of claim 8 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels.
 10. The blank of claim 8 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and the triangular bottom support panels.
 11. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 9 attached to one another along an edge perpendicular to the central fold line of the bottom panel.
 12. A carton comprising wall panels, two triangular bottom panels foldably attached along a common edge each sloping downwardly toward the edge to form a sloped bottom for the carton, and additional triangular panels in face-to-face relationship with the wall panels joining the two bottom panels to the wall panels.
 13. The carton of claim 12 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels by which the wall panels are joined.
 14. A carton comprising wall panels and a bottom forming panel to which the wall panels are foldably attached, said bottom forming panel comprising a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels wherein a first portion of triangular panels forms a bottom for the carton sloped downwardly on each side thereof toward its center, and the panels of the second portion join the panels of the first portion to the wall panels and are disposed peripherally about the bottom of the carton in face-to-face relationship with the inner surface of the wall panels in an upright position beneath the panels of the first portion.
 15. A carton comprising: first and second wall panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof; third and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof and joined to the first and second wall panels to form four interconnected wall panels; first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of the first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each in face-to-face relationship with the inner face of its respective wall panel and having a second edge upright and a third edge connecting its first and second edges; and first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along a first edge thereof, the second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and the second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panel, each bottom panel sloping downwardly toward the first edge thereof to form the bottom of the carton.
 16. The carton of claim 15 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and located exteriorly on the carton by which the wall panels are joined.
 17. The carton of claim 15 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels by which the wall panels are joined, and additional side sealing panels foldably attached to the triangular bottom support panels and joined to the side sealing panels of the wall panels.
 18. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, without a panel of non-triangular configuration being disposed between any of the triangular panels in the bottom forming panel, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.
 19. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 18 attached to each other.
 20. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel of rectilinear configuration formed solely from a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.
 21. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 20 attached to each other.
 22. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel having a plurality of foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel, a first plurality of the triangular panels of the bottom forming panel being inwardly disposed and a second plurality of the triangular panels being exteriorly disposed surrounding said inwardly disposed triangular panels on all sides thereof, each of said exteriorly disposed triangular panels being foldably attached to an inwardly disposed triangular panel and to a wall panel.
 23. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 22 attached to each other.
 24. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel consisting essentially of six foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.
 25. A carton blank comprising (1) a bottom forming panel consisting essentially of eight foldably interconnected triangular panels, and (2) wall panels foldably attached to opposed edges of the bottom forming panel.
 26. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 25 attached to each other.
 27. A carton blank comprising a bottom forming panel and a first and second pair of wall panels foldably attached to opposed substantially parallel first and second edges of the bottom forming panel, the wall panels in each pair foldably attached to one another along a side fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the first and second edges, respectively, of the bottom forming panel, the bottom forming panel having a central fold line which terminates at the intersections of each side fold line with its respective first and second parallel edges of the bottom forming panel, and additional straight fold lines joining the terminal points of the central fold line with midpoints on the third and fourth edges of the bottom forming panel and forming a diamond pattern solely within the bottom forming panel.
 28. A carton blank comprising: first and second wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof; third and fourth wall panels foldably attached along a first side edge thereof, the first and second wall panels separated from the third and fourth wall panels by a bottom forming panel to which the wall panels are foldably attached; said bottom forming panel comprising: first, second, third and fourth triangular bottom support panels foldably attached along a first edge thereof to a bottom edge of said first, second, third and fourth wall panels, respectively, each bottom support panel having a second edge which forms an extension of a second side edge of its attached wall panel, and a third edge conneCting its first and second edges; and first and second triangular bottom panels foldably attached to each other along a first edge thereof, substantially the entire second and third edges of one bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the first and third bottom support panels, and substantially the entire second and third edges of the other bottom panel foldably attached to the third edge of the second and fourth bottom support panels.
 29. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 1 attached to each other.
 30. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claims 2 attached to each other.
 31. The carton of claim 15 wherein each bottom panel further contains a central fold line extending from the intersection of the second and third edges thereof to a common point midway on its first edge.
 32. The blank of claim 1 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and said other triangular panels.
 33. The blank of claim 2 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and the triangular panels of said second portion.
 34. The blank of claim 6 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and opposed third and fourth edges of the bottom forming panel.
 35. The carton of claim 12 further including exteriorly located side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels, by which the wall panels are joined, and exteriorly located side sealing panels foldably attached to said additional triangular panels, said side sealing panels which are attached to said additional triangular panels being sandwiched between the side sealing panels attached to the wall panels and joined thereto.
 36. The carton of claim 14 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and the triangular panels of said second portion, said side sealing panels being joined to each other in face-to-face relationship and located exteriorly on the carton.
 37. The blank of claim 18 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.
 38. The blank of claim 20 furter including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.
 39. The blank of claim 22 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.
 40. The blank of claim 24 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.
 41. The blank of claim 25 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the edges of the wall panels and bottom forming panel.
 42. The blank of claim 27 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and said opposed third and fourth edges of the bottom forming panel.
 43. The blank of claim 28 further including side sealing panels foldably attached to the wall panels and each of said four triangular bottom support panels.
 44. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 33 attached to each other.
 45. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 37 attached to each other.
 46. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 42 attached to each other.
 47. A sheet comprising a plurality of the blanks of claim 43 attached to each other. 